Burundi youth terrorise civilians at will

from OMEGA SSUUNA in Bujumbura, BurundiBUJUMBURA, (CAJ News) -YOUTH from Burundi’s ruling party have brutally killed, tortured, and severely beaten scores of people in recent months as the crisis in the east African country worsens.
Among other grisly incidents, the Imbonerakure (Those who see far), used clubs to beat a teenage boy, drove a knife into the eye of one victim, blinding him, and attacked others with knives, clubs, and wooden poles.
They cut out the eye of another man and stomped him to death.
These youth from the ruling Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) have also set up unofficial roadblocks in multiple provinces, detaining and beating passersby and extorting money or stealing their possessions.
Rights groups reported additional incidents of abuse but victims were afraid to speak out.
The reign of terror reflects widespread impunity for Imbonerakure and government’s unwillingness to prosecute or rein in the group.
Human rights advocate, Ida Sawyer, said Burundians lived in fear were afraid to denounce the violations.
“The killers and torturers who carry out violence so freely and officials who support them need to know that there are consequences for their actions.”
The country descended into lawlessness in April 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his bid for a disputed third term.
Several hundred people have been killed, tortured or forcibly disappeared.
Opposition groups have also attacked security forces and ruling party members including presidential spokesman, Willy Nyamitwe, and Emmanuel Niyonkuru, environment minister.
– CAJ NEWS